AMMAN — Jordan and France have signed a memorandum of understanding
(MoU) for development cooperation with a funding ceiling of up to 912 million
euros for the 2023–2026 period.
اضافة اعلان
The agreement was signed by Minister of Planning and International
Cooperation Zeina Toukan and Deputy CEO of the French Development Agency (AFD)
Marie-Helene Loison, in the presence of French Minister of State for
Development, Francophonie, and International Partnerships Chrysoula
Zacharopoulou.
Sectoral funding and grantsThe MoU includes funding of up to 650 million euros in concessional
loans for sectoral support through the public budget, and provides financing
for priority infrastructure projects. It also allocates some 200 million euros
in funding for the private sector through AFD-affiliated Proparco, which
specializes in private-sector financing.
Additionally, grants of up to 62 million euros will support the
Jordan Response Plan to the Syrian crisis and provide technical support to
build the technical and institutional capacity of the ministries and
institutions involved in the implementation of projects to be contracted within
the framework of the memorandum.
Focus on water projectsDuring a technical meeting with senior officials at AFD, talks
covered priority projects related to water and climate change, such as projects
to reduce water loss, the National Water Carrier project, the water sector's
sanitation projects, and research into steps to implement the memo.
Toukan briefed the French side on the government's top reforms in
the water sector and developments in preparation for the national water carrier
project. France has pledged to provide development and investment loans worth
200 million euros to contribute to financing the project, in addition to a
technical grant of 5 million euros.
Toukan called on the French side to provide more grants and
concessional funding for this strategic project.
Support for SMEs and educationThe company representatives noted their continued support for
small- and medium-sized enterprises by providing credit lines through
commercial banks, with a particular focus on women and youth.
They also expressed interest in supporting the National Water
Carrier Project and school building projects in the form of public-private
partnerships.
Reforms implemented by JordanDuring consultations on development cooperation, Toukan briefed
stakeholders on the most important sectoral priorities of the Economic
Modernization Vision 2023–2025 Executive Program in terms of projects for the
coming period. She also acquainted them with the reforms implemented by Jordan,
as well as the country's efforts to support the business and investment
environment under the new investment and public-private partnership laws.
French representatives commended the efforts of the Jordanian
government to overcome its economic and financial challenges.
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